Eagle Eye (Blu-ray) Official AVSForum Review - Page 2

Originally Posted by muffinmcfluffin

I just don't get how everybody found this movie to even be "okay for what it was." It's just a 6 at best, and that's rounding up.

Originally Posted by gnj1958

Well a 6 (out of 10) would put it in the OK range wouldn't it.

Well, guess you guys wanna know, eh?

Sigh, let's see... okay, it was a strange combination of too many movies: Paycheck, Live Free or Die Hard, Shooter, The Fugitive; I, Robot; Minority Report, Deja Vu, Mission Impossible III, The Bourne Supremacy, Transformers, Crank... it just wasn't very original. In fact, I feel like this movie was simply written to combine a bunch of movies, and nothing else. It's almost like this movie didn't have a need to be written, just another filler with some bigger-name actors (I didn't know Billy Bob Thornton was in this). The biggest problem is its want for side stories that don't belong, similar to Mr. Brooks or The Matrix Revolutions.

I'll give it some props, though. For exaggerated realism in the action, it had some very stunning car chase scenes! Unfortunately, the action was somewhat too close to see what was going on. It was kind of Greengrass-esque, but it fit its own bill with use of CGI and air attacks as well. Not to mention there are "fillers" in the chase scenes involving main character conversations.

I seem to have used "filler" a few times now, which brings me to my biggest gripe with this movie. The beginning sets the stage well, and it gives a dark, rather serious tone. At the end, it's a sci-fi movie. So what's in between? The damn atonal Julianne Moore voice-over with an 80 minute wild goose chase. It's fine the first time... you are excited not knowing what's going to happen next or why it's happening. After it's revealed, you're still left satisfied. But would I be so excited for the middle of this movie the next time I see it? Absolutely not. Time could have been cut short a good portion with said filler scenes (I can name too many off the top of my head) and side-character distractions as well. I don't know what they could have replaced it with, but the movie doesn't have to be two hours long I suppose.

Shia LaBeouf is awesome. He is no longer Louis Stevens... he is the new ladies man. As he gets older, the only thing he really needs to start doing that Mark Wahlberg has on him is he needs to get tone. He's still a small dude, and some of the things he does still makes you feel like, "Are we supposed to believe that?" His eyes read determination, but sometimes you just feel he can't physically do some things that he does in his movies. I really liked Caruso's need to show emotions by close-up face shots. Like I said, Shia delivered really well here.

Overall, the movie was as cheesy as the trailer makes it. Is that a bad thing? I don't know what they could have done to take away any cheese other than write a completely different movie, but this isn't the go-see movie at this time. It's a 6/10. If you can see it for free, go for the action scenes and Shia owning the stage.



On a side note, I'll be pre-screening Body of Lies in a couple of weeks. If you want to know anything particular about that movie, ask now and I'll do my best for you.


EDIT: Let me go back to what I mean by "cheesy," because this movie's intent was not for ****s and giggles in the same way that Iron Man was. There were many more serious moments, but there were lines that would give you a chuckle, perhaps because it's Shia LaBeouf, or I don't know why. The idea of the entire eagle eye thing in itself though is just weird, so the orders given all over the city sort of make it cheesy is all. There's also this one line on the train that I thought was just hilariously stupid.

Everything was simply over-the-top, and it was almost difficult to accept in the beginning because everything felt way too real. For instance, if Shia saw a gun and picked it up, we felt the same reaction he would have, like, "Holy crap, I'm holding a gun!" By the end of the movie, we easily tolerated something like that, just like any other movie. Same goes with the instructions they had to obey. Like I said earlier, it almost became a sci-fi when it was finishing, but it still held its end.

This isn't Spider-Cheese by any means, let's just leave it at that. This movie has a good feel of Paycheck written all over it, just directed differently and with emphasis elsewhere.

Originally Posted by djoberg

Ralph,

As always, I enjoyed your review. The only thing I would add concerning the video quality was the amazing facial close-ups (which you did refer to very briefly); the detail was incredible on some shots showing every pore, pimple, freckle (think "the leading lady's son"), stubble, etc. This is one of the qualities of Blu-ray I admire the most.

I took your suggestion and quit trying to "figure everything out" early on...and I did indeed enjoy the ride (which was quite FAST and BUMPY).

Denny

Originally Posted by buylongterm

Absolutely one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. It was almost unwatchable! I am embarrassed to say I made it all the way through. I won't even begin to talk about all the ridiculous loopholes in the plot? Pathetic.

Originally Posted by cubbiechris

Yea, this was really, really stupid and pointless. My IQ was basically raped by this movie.

I'm amazed some of you actually liked this?!?!?!

Originally Posted by djoberg

So, no one told you guys you were supposed to put your IQ on hold during the movie?

You really need to get a grip and quit taking flicks like this so seriously.

Originally Posted by cubbiechris

It took it self seriously, which is what made it so bad.

Originally Posted by djoberg

So do most Sci-Fi movies, but that doesn't mean we should.

Originally Posted by Ralph Potts

Greetings,

Okay let's move on. I think that this discussion is moot. You will have to agree to disagree.

Regards,

Originally Posted by Ralph Potts

Greetings,

Chris, if you are going to openly discuss aspects of a film like this please be sure to use spoiler tags for those who have not yet seen it.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by buylongterm

I think all one needs to do is look at the tomato meter on this film. It about sums it up for me.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eagle_eye/

Or Roger Ebert

"The word preposterous is too moderate to describe "Eagle Eye." This film contains not a single plausible moment after the opening sequence, and that's borderline. It's not an assault on intelligence. It's an assault on consciousness. I know, I know, I liked "Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," but that film intended to be absurd. "Eagle Eye" has real cars and buildings and trains and CNN and stuff, and purports to take place in the real world"

Originally Posted by Dave Vaughn

At least "Eagle Eye" was fun to watch..."Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" was painful to view, IMO.

Originally Posted by cubbiechris

Define fun?

Originally Posted by Dave Vaughn

It wasn't ever boring, unlike "Mummy 3." I liked the first two Mummy's a lot, but the third was terrible (as bad as Indy 4, which I didn't like either). Maybe my expectations on Eagle Eye were pretty low, but I found it entertaining, although not believable.